HB3511 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 10294 LNS 20368 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB3511

Introduced 2/18/2025, by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 1305/10-24 new
110 ILCS 947/65.115

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Establishes the Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Grant Program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the Department of Human Services shall provide grants to eligible nonprofit associations to provide grants to nonprofit associations to hire licensed clinical social workers and to administer programs for group clinical supervision to assist social workers in fulfilling their supervised clinical experience requirements for licensure. Sets forth eligibility requirements for nonprofit associations. Sets forth requirements regarding the use of grant funds. Describes annual reporting requirements for grant recipients. Allows the Department of Human Services to adopt rules needed to implement the Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Grant Program. Amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act. Changes the name of the School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program to the School and Municipal/County Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Increases the maximum amount of grants that may be awarded through the School and Municipal/County Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. Allows a recipient to apply for additional grant funding in subsequent years only if the recipient verifies that the grant amount allocated in the prior year has been applied to reduce the balance of the recipient's educational loan.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Department of Human Services Act is amended by adding Section 10-24 as follows:

(20 ILCS 1305/10-24 new)

Sec. 10-24. Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Grant Program.

(a) The purpose of this Section is to establish a program, subject to appropriation, to provide grants to nonprofit associations to hire licensed clinical social workers and provide group clinical supervision to social workers seeking to fulfill the supervised clinical experience requirements for licensed clinical social worker licensure in Illinois.

(b) As used in this Section:

"Department" means the Department of Human Services.

"Licensed clinical social worker" means a person who holds a license authorizing the independent practice of clinical social work in Illinois under the auspices of an employer or in private practice or under the auspices of public human service agencies or private, nonprofit agencies providing publicly sponsored human services.

"Nonprofit association" means a statewide organization that is located in Illinois and is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, and represents social work, mental health, child welfare, or related services.

(c) Subject to appropriation, the Department shall establish and administer the Nonprofit Clinical Supervision Program. Through the Program, the Department shall provide grants to eligible nonprofit associations:

(1) to hire licensed clinical social workers to provide group clinical supervision to social workers across the State; and

(2) to administer programs for group clinical supervision to assist social workers in fulfilling their supervised clinical experience requirements for licensure.

(d) Any programs funded under this Section must be made available to all eligible applicants across the State, regardless of their affiliation with any particular association or organization.

(e) To be eligible for a grant under the Program, a nonprofit association must:

(1) be located in Illinois and registered as a nonprofit organization under Section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code;

(2) represent social work, mental health, child welfare, or related services; and

(3) submit an application in the form and manner prescribed by the Department.

(f) An application submitted under this Section must include:

(1) a description of the nonprofit association's mission and the populations it serves;

(2) a plan for how the grant funds will be used to hire licensed clinical social workers and provide group clinical supervision to eligible social workers from across Illinois; and

(3) a proposed budget detailing the use of grant funds, including the costs associated with hiring licensed clinical social workers and administering the Program.

(g) Grant funds provided under this Section shall be used exclusively for:

(1) hiring licensed clinical social workers to provide clinical supervision to social workers; and

(2) administering programs for group clinical supervision, including necessary materials, space, and technology to facilitate supervision sessions.

(h) Nonprofit associations receiving a grant under this Section must submit an annual report to the Department detailing:

(1) the use of grant funds, including expenditures and Program outcomes;

(2) the number of social workers receiving clinical supervision and the number of hours completed toward licensed clinical social worker licensure requirements; and

(3) the challenges and successes of the Program.

(i) The Department shall evaluate the effectiveness of the Program and submit a biennial report to the General Assembly that includes recommendations on whether the Program should be modified or expanded.

(j) The Department shall adopt rules necessary to implement and administer this Section, including rules concerning the application process, eligibility criteria, reporting requirements, and Program evaluation standards.

Section 10. The Higher Education Student Assistance Act is amended by changing Section 65.115 as follows:

(110 ILCS 947/65.115)

Sec. 65.115. School and Municipal/County Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program.

(a) To encourage Illinois students to work, and to continue to work, as a school social worker in public school districts in this State or in State municipalities, the Commission shall, each year, receive and consider applications for loan repayment assistance under this Section. This program shall be known as the School and Municipal/County Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program. The Commission shall administer the program and shall adopt all necessary and proper rules to effectively implement the program.

(b) Subject Beginning July 1, 2022, subject to a separate appropriation made for such purposes, the Commission shall award a grant, up to a maximum of $8,000 $6,500, to each qualified applicant per year. The Commission may encourage the recipient of a grant under this Section to use the grant award for repayment of the recipient's educational loan. A recipient may apply for additional grant funding in subsequent years only if the recipient verifies that the grant amount allocated in the prior year has been applied to reduce the balance of the recipient's educational loan. Verification shall be provided in a form and manner determined by the Commission, and the recipient must meet all other qualifications set forth by this Section. If an appropriation for this program for a given fiscal year is insufficient to provide grants to all qualified applicants, the Commission shall allocate the appropriation in accordance with this subsection. If funds are insufficient to provide all qualified applicants with a grant as authorized by this Section, the Commission shall allocate the available grant funds for that fiscal year to qualified applicants who submit a complete application on or before a date specified by the Commission, based on the following order of priority:

(1) first, to new, qualified applicants who are members of a racial minority as defined in subsection (e); and

(2) second, to other new, qualified applicants in accordance with this Section.

(c) A person is a qualified applicant under this Section if he or she meets all of the following qualifications:

(1) The person is a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen.

(2) The person is a resident of this State.

(3) The person is a borrower with an outstanding balance due on an educational loan related to obtaining a degree in social work.

(4) The person has been employed as a school social worker by a public elementary school or secondary school in this State for at least 12 consecutive months or as a social worker for an Illinois municipality or county who did not report directly to a police department.

(5) The person is currently employed as a school social worker by a public elementary school or secondary school in this State or as a social worker for an Illinois municipality or county who does not report directly to a police department.

(d) An applicant shall submit an application, in a form determined by the Commission, for grant assistance under this Section to the Commission. An applicant is required to submit, with the application, supporting documentation as the Commission may deem necessary.

(e) Racial minorities are underrepresented as school social workers in elementary and secondary schools and in municipalities in Illinois, and the General Assembly finds that it is in the interest of this State to provide them priority consideration for programs that encourage their participation in this field and thereby foster a profession that is more reflective of the diversity of Illinois residents, students and parents they will serve. A more reflective workforce in social work allows improved outcomes for individuals and a better utilization of services. Therefore, the Commission shall give priority to those applicants who are members of a racial minority. In this subsection (e), "racial minority" means a person who is a citizen of the United States or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States and who is:

(1) Black (a person having origins in any of the black racial groups in Africa);

(2) Hispanic (a person of Spanish or Portuguese culture with origins in Mexico, South or Central America, or the Caribbean Islands, regardless of race);

(3) Asian American (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands); or

(4) American Indian or Alaskan Native (a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America).

(Source: P.A. 102-622, eff. 7-1-22; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-1022, eff. 1-1-23.)